I’ll tell you this: if we land a few critical pieces between now and whenever, I’ll be with you Nick. But Tootoo, Samuelsson, Gustavsson and Brunner aren’t cutting it…not when he’s admitted for nearly a year that upgrades are sorely needed and today’s the day to do it.

Update: interesting statement from Nick Cotsonika.

@cotsonika

cotsonika: Amazing how Ken Holland has not earned the benefit of the doubt among at least some of the Detroit fan base.

Well…has the team improved since we lost to Bubba? Money to spend, Nick. Holes to fill. Homer’s gone? Tootoo. Hudler? Sammy. A backup goalie? Got it. Brunner? Untested. Tell me that if this UFA thing ends today we’d be a favorite. Land me Suter and we’ll talk about benefit of the doubt.

A bit more below on why I think Semin may not be an option any longer.

On the record: like the Gustavsson deal. Re-phrase: Really dig that deal.

Samuelsson? The money Hudler deserves with a bit more production and grit, but not much more. I’m neutral.

Absolutely despise the Tootoo signing. I honestly dislike this player and I’m not sure I’ll be able to set that aside.

I don’t believe we’re in the running for Parise and I’m not sure Semin is an option either. If that’s the case and William Tell plus Tootoo are the “plan b” options? Failure.

I think we’re still in it for Suter.

And just to repeat: the Tootoo signing disgusts me.

Question from our very own agitator, Garth: why do I believe Semin isn’t an option anymore? Because if we get Suter for 10, and it’s going to take 10, that leaves us 7 with a few moves to go. I still think Knuble’s coming (although the Tootoo signing may have done away with that). I just don’t see the Wings signing 4 more forwards (including Brunner), Suter and a goalie.

But, a trade could very well be happening as we speak, too. You’ve read that we’re in on Nash…ok. And the BJ’s wanted Gustavsson. Maybe they’ll get him, along with Tootoo.

If we get Semin and Suter, but miss out on Parise? I’m reluctantly ok with that, when you consider all else that’s gone down.

And if we land Nash, along with Suter? I’m reservedly ok with that too…depending on who and what we give up to get him.

Comments

Posted by
MsRedWinger
from the State where Tigers roam in the Spring on 07/01/12 at 08:59 PM ET

Agreed on Tootoo. Just the wrong kind of player for this team, imo.

Re: Sammy. It doesn’t make the team better. It’s, at best, a neutral/lateral move, but Sammy is older than Hudler, and he’s four yrs older than the last time he was effective (Cup win). The NTC part of it for two yrs is what blew me away. Why? Was there a stampede to sign Sammy to $3 MM for more than one year?

Posted by
ITDeuce
from The Sunny High Desert on 07/01/12 at 09:06 PM ET

If tootoo is what it takes to keep the rest of the shitbags in the NHL from slashing datsyuk’s wrists, then I can deal with it. As for sammy? Are we that desperate for a right handed shot? Why not bring j Williams back again? (sarcasm). We have a lot of forwards, looks like there is a trade in the works and Sammy is plugging one of the holes that are about to be created with that trade.

Posted by
11B3PF7 in MN
on 07/01/12 at 09:09 PM ET

There has to be a trade brewing - we have 22 players with only 5 d and two RFA players.

I’d take Tootoo and his energy over Sammy shooting pucks wide all game any day. When you play on a team with a guy like Tootoo, while you’re watching him from the bench he fires you up. Great guy to be on the same team with.

I have been wondering about this, but to whom, and for what? Seriously, who would take Tootoo for that kind of money? That’s Darren Helm money. He’s worth more than Miller? or Eaves? WTF? I like the grit element, I really do, but I have to admit I hated the deal until I saw the money. Then I really hated the deal. 3 years at 5.7 million is way too motherfuching much for some training camp competition. Kenny please do something awesome and make me believe again, because you just spilled cool points all the fuch over the floor…

Posted by
ITDeuce
from The Sunny High Desert on 07/01/12 at 09:11 PM ET

The thing is, if they wanted a disturber, why not Avery? He is bigger than Tootoo with a better scoring ability and we drafted him too.

Wasn’t there a time when the Wings Nation despised Chelios? Absolutely hated him? Same with TooToo for some of you folks.. But hey.. He’s a scrappy little dude.. and incase you never seen the games.. he aways gave the Wings a hard time.. Welcome to the other side of the stick.. If he sticks around that is.. Sammy…? Eh, it’s whatever. He better hit the damn net with his shot. Gusty.. I like it.

Monster signing was good, Sammy signing is very “eh”. I would have rather sat on the 3m and let some of the younger players get more ice time. It seems like that money could have been put towards Semin.

I love the posts on TMR saying they have lost all faith in Kenny. We aren’t out of anything yet. I may not like the footloose signing, but I think William Tell’s signing for 3rd line duty with Helm and Eaves/Miller is a good thing. Suter and Parise…ans Seminar still haven’t signed…and we now HAVE to trade a few forwards anyway…I’m far from depressed as some of these fools are; I’m intrigued. Kenny is far from done.

Posted by
mrfluffy
from A wide spot on I-90 in Montana on 07/01/12 at 09:18 PM ET

Footloose means tootoo. Damnedest kindle fire. Damned that is.

Posted by
mrfluffy
from A wide spot on I-90 in Montana on 07/01/12 at 09:20 PM ET

He hits more than Abby, scores more than Abby, agitates more than Abby, and is gonna make less money than Abby. The problem?

Posted by topshelf14 from Hockeytown, USA on 07/01/12 at 07:11 PM ET

He will make more money than Abby, he’s a stupid self-centered shit who plays like there’s no puck on the ice, is not anywhere near as good defensively as Abby and nowhere near as good in the locker room as Abby, and did I mention he’s a selfish stupid shit who takes stupid penalties, to the extent that even Nashville sat his ass down as a scratch in the playoffs because they couldn’t afford to have him on the ice?

Guys has anyone thought this may be at the request of a former teammate named suter?

Posted by Adam from Detroit on 07/01/12 at 07:24 PM ET

Any indications they were good friends at all?

Posted by
SYF
from Twerkin' with Anastasia Ashley on 07/01/12 at 09:27 PM ET

Hard to believe we’ll have money for suter and semin. Because we’re definately getting suter. I’d rather not have semin due to the fact that every time I see his name in a sentence I giggle like a schoolgirl. Or is it…...gurgle

About Abel to Yzerman

Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977. No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y. Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation. There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature. Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that. Your suggestions and critiques are welcome: wphoulihan@gmail.com